Compare towns
Ashford vs Plainville vs Upton vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashford has the youngest population (median age 37.9).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Ashford | Plainville | Upton | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,226 |
17,551Highest |
8,189 |
944Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Union and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $121,926±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$88,958±$14k 10% above U.S. |
| Upton and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,800±$18k about the U.S. average |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$330,400±$26k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208Highest 12% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
— |
| Ashford and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,982 124% above U.S. |
$4,798 54% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,793Lowest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #90 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Ashford School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Union School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainville High School | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Highest |
11.2Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.